Their Majesties The King and Queen of Norway were present when the Armed Forces Music Corps performed at an outdoor concert at Oscar’s Hall on the occasion of the King and Queen’s golden wedding ceremony on Monday evening. The event was free and open to the public, so that they could join in the celebration of the royal anniversary.

Significant parts of the concert programme were taken from the corps new recording “Three Kings”, which reproduces music from major events under Norway’s three monarchs after 1905. A CD with the record was handed over to the royal couple during the concert.

Queen Sonja arrives at Oscar’s Hall. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen

The King and Queen were received by Hoffshofmarschall Gry Mølleskog. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen

“As long as military music has existed in organised form, the link to the royal houses in Europe has been strong. Military music has created festivities and ambience by crowns, state visits, openings of national assemblies, weddings and funerals”, said music director at the Armed Forces Music Corps and conductor on the CD, Andreas Hanson.

During the concert, music was performed from a series of big events, as well as the royal couple’s own wedding, which was first played during the wedding dinner at the Royal Palace in 1968.

Queen Sonja at Oscar’s Hall. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen

King Harald at Oscar’s Hall. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen

The Armed Forces Music Corps is Norway’s most important representation orchestra and Norway’s largest professional corps. Every 17th of May, the Armed Forces Music Corps has the honourable mission to be at the forefront of the parade.

The Armed Forces music in Norway celebrates its 200th anniversary this year. In Norway today, five professional music corps make up the Armed Forces Music Corp: The Air Force Music Corps, The Navy’s Musical Corps, The Royal Norwegian Navy Music Corps, The Defence Staff Society and the Norwegian National Defence Force North Norway.

Queen Sonja at Oscar’s Hall. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen

Oscar’s Hall Palace is a small castle in the fjord Frognerkilen on Bygdøy in Oslo. The palace was built from 1847 to 1852 by the Danish architect Johan Henrik Nebelong on commission from King Oscar I and Queen Joséphine of Norway and Sweden. In 1881, King Oscar II opened the palace to the public as a museum.

Oscar’s Hall was sold by King Carl IV to the Norwegian state in 1863. The palace was almost given a new role when it was decided in 1929 that Oscar’s Hall would become the new residence of Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha. These plans were never realised. Today, it is the property of the state and is placed at the disposal of the King.